For the last two months, I’ve been helping out some friends. And it was a hoot.
My friends at Chili John’s were featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” on the Food Network. If you’ve seen this show, you know how cool the restaurants are. Apparently, a customer wrote Mr. Fieri about the pies at Chili John’s. At some point, CJ’s made the cut and Fieri came in last December and filmed a segment. I’m told he shot 45 minutes to an hour about the pies (which really are dreamy), then he tried the chili. I guess it really rocked his world, because he filmed loads about it. In the end, the CJ’s segment showed nothing but chili. He forgot all about the pie. Go figure.
The episode featuring Chili John’s finally aired at the end of April. A few weeks before, my buddies asked if I’d be available to work a couple of shifts each week, to help them through the expected rush. I said I had to think about it.
And I did. Helping friends is a beautiful thing. But if you’re hurting, disappointing or letting down yourself in doing so, you won’t actually be much help to those friends anyway. So I put on my thinking cap, and really tried to imagine if I could handle slinging chili. I decided I could indeed handle it, called my friend and told her to expect me behind the counter for two months. And so it began.
Y’all, I’ve been a waitress on the ground and in the sky, but those experiences are deep in the heart of my past. So this go-round took some getting used to. And I did alright. Being a customer there for so many years prepared me to answer all questions about the food, and I don’t have a problem talking to strangers, so that part was smooth. Only a couple of people were donkey-butts, and they didn’t phase me at all, either.
When my friend Gene was alive and running the restaurant, he didn’t take any guff from customers. On more than one occasion, I heard him telling some jackass where to shove a bad attitude. Witnessing that enabled me to look the donkey-butts in the eye, and give it back better than they dished it out. You should have seen me. Both times I was challenged, I leaned across the counter, let the guys know I wasn’t a pushover, stood up for myself and shut ’em down. At that point, they closed their flippin’ pie-holes. It was beautiful.
But don’t let me misrepresent here. There were only a couple of donkey-butts. The rest of the customers were grand. And the majority of them were newbies. It was amazing to see how many people came in just because of Fieri’s Triple D show. And from all over, to boot. And then a lot of them came back. Week after week. I was impressed.
Now that Gene’s widow, Deb, and her son Alec are running the joint, the vibe has changed. And that’s okay. They’re darling souls, and I care for their family. Being there to help was something I’m proud to have done. And it was the right thing, too. I don’t have to tell you, doing the right thing makes us all better people.
Last Tuesday was my final day working at Chili John’s. When my shift ended, I hugged everyone and walked out the back door, toward my car. It was a hot day, and the sun was bright. As I strolled across the parking lot and removed my apron, I thought about Gene. I imagined him smiling, and I thought he’d be happy I had helped. I miss him, I won’t lie. Thinking about him as I started my engine and headed toward home, I felt the loss. Looking over my shoulder, I realized my feelings of loss will never compare with his family’s feelings. They’re good people. Wonderful, in fact. I’m lucky to know them. Lucky I got to help.
I’ll have to stop in again. Soon. For the people, to be sure. But also for the chili. And the pie. Don’t forget the pie.
